Fender straightening tool



w m, 333. L CAMERON WWW FENDER STRAIGHTENING TOOL Filed April 29, 19,322 Sheets-Sheet l May W, W33. v. E... CAMERON FENDER STRAIGHTENING TOOLFiled April 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet Inventor ttomey Patented May 30,1933 PATENT OFFICE- VERNE L. CAMERON, 0F ESOONDIDO, CALIFORNIA FENDERSTRAIGHTENING TOOL Application filed April 29, 1932. Serial No. 808,309.

This invention relates to a contrivance or tool which is especiallyconstructed for reconditioning distorted sheet metal, the same beingparticularly desirable for use in reshaping automobile fenders byremoving dents and restoring the metal to its original form and shape.

I am aware of the fact that it is not broadly new to provide a tool foraccomplishing this task. So far as I am aware,

I do not know of any accessory, appurtenance, appliance or tool havingthe'characteristics of the improved device constituting the subjectmatter of this invention.

The foregoing assertion is redicated upon the belief that the improvedtool herein illustrated and described is desirable in that it includesan appropriately shaped frame having companion convex disks located inclose proximity to each other and ad'ustably supported on the frame fori 1mg rotation in order to secure the requisite degree' of freedom,adjustment and moton for acting on the sheet metal between the dlSkS m amanner to reform damaged portions and smooth the metal in such a manner.to restore it to its original condition.

My primary aim is to generally improve upon tools of this character byproviding 0 one which undoubtedly fulfills the require- Fig. 2 is anenlarged detail sectional and,

elevational view illustrating the association and arrangement of thestructural details more explicitly.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line3-3 of Figs. 4 and 5 are detail perspective views of the adaptor fixtureconstituting mountings or carriers for the work engaging members.

Referring now to the drawings by dis tinguishing reference characters,it will be observed that the numeral 6 designates a C-shaped clamphaving upper and lower arms 7 and 8 adapted to straddle the fender orother work acted on. The upper -arm 7 is somewhat shorter than the lowerarm 8 and the latter arm has its extended end ortion formed into acentrally apertured klike base 9. The companionate work en'- gagingdevices have certain commoncharacteristics and are distinguished by thereference characters 10 and 11 respectively.

The lower device 11 as seen in Fi 5 comprises a longitudinally elongatetubular body or shell 12 whose lower end portion 13 is formed to providea foot and the foot is provided with an eccentric screw'threaded stud 14extending through the aperture in the base 9 to accommodate a retainingnut 15. As seen in Fig. 2, the tubular body 12 .is enlarged at its openend to form a cup 16 to accommodate an end thrust anti-friction bearingunit 17. The tool proper comprises a stem 18 having a convex workengaging head 19 and formed at its inner end with a groove 20.- The stemextends into and through a bushing or sleeve 21 mounted in the body. Thediameter of the head 19 is considerably larger than the cup so thatthe'marginal portions over hang the peripheral wall of the cup.

The fixture 10 comprises a similar tubular body 22 having a cup23'containin the end thrust bearing 24 to accommodate t e shoulderportion on the tool stem 25 'ust beneath the opposed convex work engaglnhead 26. The stem is also grooved' as at 2 and the grooved portion ofthe stem fits into the ushing or sleeve 28. The numerals 29 in bothinstances,- designate set screws extending through the body, the bushingand into the grooves to provide the desired detachableswivel connectionof the tool inthe shell or body. The numeral 30 designates a channelshaped rocker arm which is formed integral with body 22 and extends. atthe angle .59 portion permitted shown and terminates in .a feed nut 31for the threaded portion 32 of the crank or set surf screw 33. The setscrew is engageable with the adjacent portion of the arm 7. The arm I 7extends between the flanges of the channelshaped arm 30 and is pivotallyconnected thereto as indicated at 34. Thus the fixture 11 is arelatively stationary one, while the fixture is adjustable toward andfrom it. It is to be observed that the longitudinal axis of the toolstem is at a substantiall obtuse angle with respect to the correspon ingaxis of the tool stem 18 whereby to disse the tool in the approximateangular re- 15 ationship seen in Fig. 2. Hence when the convex heads 19and 26 are together, or approximatel so, their contactin surfaces areeccentric o the axis of the too stem. This is essential .in order torovide the r uisite 8 freedom of action of t e free rotata le orswivelly mounted tool. Particular attention. is called to the eccentricconnections of the stud 14 to the adjacent end portion 9 of the frame.This allows the fixture 11 to be bodily adjusted on eccentric axis tovary the relationship of the companiondisk or heads 19 and 26.

In other words, this confines the adjustment to a degree which makes itpossible to mani ulate the tool accurately. and properly.

he principle idea is to 1 rovide a frame ofa shape to engage overt efender with a pair of convex 'sk-like. work engaging elements, thesebeing freely rotatable in bearings, the bearings being in somewhat o sedrelation and carried by similar attac mg devices. The attaching devicesare detachablyand adjustably mounted on the free end portions of thearms of the frame so that they may take the position seen in Fig.1 orsomewhat similar ositions according to the shape of the work eingreconditioned. The lower bearin and its roller or disk becomes asubstantia y fixed member while the up per; one is adjustable toward andfrom it and held in a set. position by the feed screw or crank which maybe fed or backed up as the case may be.

With this arran ement the free circular cm the turnable disks'issufiicient to restore the pro er shape and contour of'the sheet metal.his tool is usually successful for rubbing out the excess metal. causedby dents and bulges, either as shrinkin it orfdistributin it into alarger area an leaves the contour true enough as to seldom requirefiling or filling.

The axes on. which the shafts are mounted are generally inclined'withrespect to 69 each other causing the pressure to be applied to the diskbetween the center and the periphery'on one side of the center. Thedevice is clamped on the damaged surface in the manner of an ordina i IC clamp and .fiiisgoperated by grasping at proper points and propelling,it back and forth over the ace. I I claim for this invention, theapplication of an entirely new and a different princi le from that emploed in prior art tools esigned to accomp 'sh a similar purpose. A newprincipleis embodied in the free rotating action of two convex surfaces,so mounted that they may be set at varying angles and positions to eachother, and thus adaptableto any portion of the metal or. automobilefender, whether near 'the automobilebody or the outer bead of the fender.or otherwise. The method of engaging or pinching of the metal betweenthe offset discs gives a. powerful fulcrum-like force, not 0t erwiseobtained. The rotating motion on a free shaft tends to a natural returnof'the distorted metal to its original position. I

It is thought that the description taken' in connection with thedrawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had.Therefore a more lengthy description is thou ht unnecessarya Wh' e theforegoing description of the invention has been shown and described, itis to be understood that minor changes comi within the field of theinvention claime ma be resorted to if desired. v

aving thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A tool ofthe class described comprising a substantially C-shaped frame, a pair ofcompanion fixtures pivotally, ad ustably and detachably mounted on theterminal ends of the arms of said frame, each, fixture including atubular bearing having a cup, an end thrust bearing in each cup, aconvex work engagi disk, a shaft connected thereto and exten 'ng throughthe bearing, retaining means for the shaft, the disks being engageablewith the end thrust bearings in said cups, and an adjusting screwcarried by one of the fixtures and cooperable with the adjacent end ofsaid frame for holding it in a'predetermined adjusted position. 2. Adevice of the class described comprising a substantiallyC-shaped clamphaving a relativel short upper arm and a pro rtionately onger lower arm,the exten g free-end portion of the lower arm being formed into adisk-like terminal centrally 'apertured, a tool mounting having a footengageable withsaid disk-like portion, a threaded stud carried by thefoot and extending through the aperture in said disklike portion toaccommodate a'retaining nut,

said stud-being disposed eccentrically with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the mounting, a tool comprising a stem swivelly mounted in saidmounting and having a convex work engaging hea '3. A device .of the:class described comprising a substantially C-shaped clamp havmg arelatively short upper arm and a proportionately longer lower arm, theextendmg free end portion of the lower am being formed with a disk-liketerminal centrally apertured, a tool mounting having a foot engageablewith said disk-like portion, a threaded stud carried by the foot andextending through the aperture in said disklike portion to accommodate aretaining nut said stud be disposed eccentrically with respect to theongitudinal axis of the mounting, a tool comprising a stem swivellymounted in said mounting and having a convex work engaging hea togetherwith a similar com anion tool unit comprisin a fixture including an armivotally attac ed intermediate its ends to t e free end of the upperclam arm, an. adjusting set screw carried by t e inner end of saidfixture arm and engageable with the adjacent clamp ar a tub ar bodyattached to the opposite en of the fixture arm, and a swivel y mountedtool in said body including a stem and a convex head opposed to saidfirst-named head, the stems of the respective tools being disposed ingeneral obtuse angular relationship with respect to each other, wherebyto provide the desired offset action of the tools which allows the headsto come together in eccentric contacting relationship.

4. In a structure of the class described, a C-shaped clamp, one arm ofsaid clam being extended beyond corresponding en s of the remaining armof the clamp, a relativel stationa tool and mounting eccentrica 1yattache to the extended end rtion of the first-named arm, a bracketpivotally attached intermediate its ends to the second named clamp arm,adjustin and retaining means for said bracket, an a tool on the freeswingable end of the bracket arm opposed to said first-named tool, bothof said tools including cooperating convex disk-like heads.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

VERNE L. CAMERON.

